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Northwest Ontario

Regional Planning

Page Content

Region Overview

Northwestern Ontario (the Northwest) consists of the districts of Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay, which is roughly the area north of Lake Superior stretching from the Wawa area in the east and the Manitoba border in the west. The region accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the land area in the province and approximately two per cent of Ontario’s total population. Roughly half of the population in the Northwest resides in the city of Thunder Bay and the remaining population resides in smaller communities across the region.

This region is divided into Greenstone-Marathon, North of Dryden, West of Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay sub-regions.

Draft Remote Community Connection Plan was released in August 2012 to the Northwest Ontario First Nations Transmission Planning Committee, which recommended connection of up to 21 communities. Engagement of the communities has continued and an updated draft Remote Community Connection Plan was published in August 2014.

Region's Local Distribution Companies

Atikokan Hydro Inc.

Kenora Hydro Electric Corporation Ltd.

Sioux Lookout Hydro Inc.

Fort Frances Power Corporation

Thunder Bay Hydro Electricity Distribution Inc.

Hydro One Networks Inc.

Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation

Current Status

The first regional planning cycle for this region is complete. The Regional Infrastructure Plan (RIP) for the region was published in June 2017. It is expected that the next planning cycle for this region be initiated in the next 3-5 years.

Sub-region

Status

Greenstone-Marathon

An IRRP was completed in June 2016

North of Dryden

An IRRP was completed in January 2015

​Thunder Bay

An IRRP was completed in December 2016

​West of Thunder Bay

An IRRP was completed in July 2016

​Remote Communities

Draft Remote Community Connection Plan released August 2012 to the Northwest Ontario First Nations Transmission Planning Committee

Recommends connection of up to 21 communities

Engagement of the communities has continued and an updated draft Remote Community Connection Plan in August 2014